Electric flasher



May 12, 1925. 1,537,796

G. L. BOSSARD ET AL ELECTRI C FLASHER Fileq June 1,- 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor y ia i Jiiarney May 12, 1925. 1,537,796 G. L. BOSSABD ET AL ELECTRIC FLASHER Fi1e d June 1, 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet '2 I Inventor 9 a flii orney similar Patented May 12, 1925.

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LAND, ASSIGNOBS; BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS; 'ro- Boss'ARn RAILWAY SIGNAL ooarona'rron, or TROY, NEW YORK.

ELECTRIC FLASHER.

Application filed June 1, 1920. Serial No. 385,608.

To all whom it may concern:

.Be it known that we, GISBERT L. BOSSARD, a citizen of Switzerland, resident of Troy, county of Rensselaer, and State of New York, and RUDOLF ZAUGG, a citizen of Switzerland, resident of Berne, Canton of Berne, Switzerland, have invented new and useful Improvements in Electric Flashers, of which the following is a specification.

Reference may be had to the accompanying drawings, and the reference characters marked thereon, which form a part of this specification. Similar characters refer to arts in the several figures therein. This lnvention relates to means. whereby an electric current is self-interrupted at predetermined regular intervals.

The invention is adapted .for the automatic control of an electric current for the intermittent lighting of electric la'mps, but may be employed for the automatic interruption or regulation of the current for various purposes.

I Certain objects of the invention are to provide a sim le and reliable device for the purpose state to eliminate noise in the operation of the device; and to provide for substantially accurate regulation of the operating mechanism with respect to the frequency of operation and the intervals during which the current is interrupted.

Otherobject's will ap ear in connection with the following description.

Fig. 1 of the drawings'is-a view in side elevation of the current-interrupting-mechanism enclosed within a casing broken away and shown in section showing the pendulous member which carries the circuitmiaking-and-breaking' tube in deflected position.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic View of the same connected in circuit with a. plurality of lamps adapted to be intermittently lighted by the device;

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section taken on the broken line 33 in Fig. 1, with the pendulous member in normal position.

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic View illustrating another form of our invent-ion.

Fig. 5 is a similar diagrammatic view lllustiating another form of our invention. The drawings illustrate the invention in preferred form. Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, 1 1s a casing, containing the circuitlnterrupting-mechanisin. Mounted upon a suitable support within the casing is a fieldmagnet, 2, the ole-pieces, 3 and 4, of which project upwardly.

An armature, 5, is rotatively mounted between, and within the magnetic field of, said pole-pieces, said armature being fixed upon a shaft, 6,which is rotatively mounted 111 bearings in brackets, 7, erected from the bottom of the casing, 1.

A pendulousmember, 8, is fixed upon the armature shaft, 6, whereby said armature and pendulous member are adapted to1 0scillate in unison with each other.

A tube-holder, 9, is mounted u on said pendulous member, 8, by means 0 screws, 10, inserted through slots, 11, in the tubeholder into said pendulous member, whereby lateral adjustment of said tube-holder relatively to the pendulous member can be accomplished.

A tube, 12,.of insulating material, such as glass, hard-rubber or the like, 'is mounted upon said tube-holder, 9, by means of screwfastened-straps, 13, whereby said tube is supported in fixed relation to said pendulous member, 8, and partakes of the oscillating movement thereof.

As shown, said tube is in the general form of an arc of a circle of substantlal dimensions and is providedin its bottom portion" with separated pockets, 14 and 15, one preferably near the middle of the tube and the other preferably near one end of the tube.

Electrical contacts, 16'and 17, project interiorly of said tube into the respective pockets, 14 and 15.

The tube ispartly filled with a body, 18.

of electrically conductive liquid. preferably mercury, suflicent when the pendulous member, 8, is in normal position to fill said pockets, 14 and 15, and substantially cover the intervening space between said pockets, but the quantity of which is so limited that said liquid will be withdrawn from a portion of the bottom of the tube, 12, at a point between said pockets when the pendulous member is deflected to a substantial degree by movement of the armature 5, caused by energization of the field-magnet, 2.

A main electric circuit, 19, and 20, has one of its terminals connected with the contact, 16, and its other terminal connected with the contact, 17.

A line connect-ion, 21, extends from the side, 19, of said main electric circuit through the field-magnet, 2, to the contact, 17, whereby the field-magnet is energized by current passing through the body of liquid within the tube when the tube is in normal position. In this form of the invention the fieldmagnet is in parallel with the connection formed by a lamp or lamps, 23, to which current is supplied by the line wires, 19 and 20.

The main electric circuit may include any electrically operated devices which are to be intermittently energized such as electriclamps, 23.

The operation of the device is as follows:

WVhen it is desired to intermittently operate the lamps, 23, electric current is supplied to the main circuit, 19, and 20, from a suitable source (not shown). The pendulous member, 8, being in normal position, the liquid body, 18, not only fills the pockets, 14 and 15, but covers the intervening bottom surface of the tube forming an electrical connection between said contacts, and closing the main circuit through the lamps, 23, causing them to be illuminated At the same time the circuit is closed by said body of liquid, 18, through the shunt-circuit, 21, to energize the electromagnet, 2, thereby causing a rotative movement of the armature, 5, and an accompanying swinging movement of the pendulous member, 8, to the position shown in Fig. 1.

Inertia and gravity however, cause the body of mercury, 18, to maintain a level position so that as the pendulous member is deflected the mercury will be withdrawn toward the lower end of the tube, leaving a portion of the tube uncovered between said contacts, 14 and 15, and thus interrupting not only the main circuit 19 and 20, but the shunt-circuit, 21, as well.

As the main circuit is thus interrupted the lamps, 23, are extinguished and the pendulous member yields to the action of gravitation by which it is returned to normal position in the direction of the arrow, 24, in Fig. 1, whereupon the circuits are again closed by the body of mercury, 18, connecting together the contacts, 16 and 17, thus again illuminating the lamps and causing the pendulous member to be again deflected by the electromagnet. The intermittent lighting of the iamps maybe thus continued indefinitely.

The throw of the pendulous member can be varied by rotative adjustment of the armature, 5, upon its shaft, 6, the armature being secured in adjusted position upon the shaft by means of a screw, 25.

The timing of the circuit-interruptions can also be varied by adjustment of the tubeholder upon the pendulous member in the manner above described.

The swinging of the pendulous member can also be regulated by means of a weight, 26, capable of adjustment longitudinally thereof.

In interrupting the circuit in the manner above described it is not necessary that either of the pockets should be emptied, as a limited quantity of mercury or the like remaining in the isolated pocket when the circuit is broken is in effect a part of the contact within said pocket.

\Vhile we have described the tube, 12, as being made of insulating material, it is not necessary for certain purposes of the invention that the whole tube should be so made, but merely that the two contacts, 16 and 17,

should be so insulated from each other that the circuit is closed between them by the body of mercury or the like in substantially the manner above described.

The tube and tube-holder of our device represents a unit as many of which units as may be desired may be mounted upon the same pendulous member, 8.

In Fig. 4, the main circuit, 19 and 20, armature, 5, the pendulous member, 8, and the parts carried thereby are substantially the same as those shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, and above described, except that the tube is so positioned upon the pendulous member that the circuit between contacts, 16 and 17, is open instead of closed when the pendulous member is in normal position.

In this form of our invention however, the electromagnet, 2, is permanently in the main circuit, but has a substantially higher resistance than that part of the circuit of which the contacts, 16 and 17, and body of mercury, 18, form a part.

The operation'of this form of our invention is as follows:

Electric current being supplied to the the same, permitting the pendulous member to swing back to normal position.

p The operation just described may be repeated indefinitely. 1

For certain purposes of the mvention any desired number of contacts similar to' the contacts 16 and 17, may be mounted.

upon the tube, 12, in substantially the manner above described, whereby any desired number of circuits may be interrupted by the swinging movements of the pendulous mem- 20 b r. By having the ends of the tube enlarged as shown, a larger body of gas may be provided at the ends of the tube if gas filled, whereby the impact of the body of mercury upon the ends of the tubewill be somewhat cushioned or relieved.

In the modification shown in Fig. 5, the arrangement and operation of the parts with respect to the intermittent movement of the pendulous member, 8, and mercury-tube, 12, are the same as in the construction shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, except that in Fig. 5, the electromagnets, 2 and 2, are arranged in parallel with each other. but in series with the lamps 23. In Fig. 5, however, we have shown a shunt-connection, 27 including a resistance, 28, through which the lamps, 23, are continuously supplied with lighting current, but more or less dimmed due to the resistance, 28, except when the contacts, 16

and 17, are connected by the body of mercury in the tube, 12.

VVha-t we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A device of the classdescribed having circuit-interrupting mechanism comprising a field-magnet provided with pole-pieces, a movable armature mounted between said pole-pieces and movable between the polepieces without impact engagement therewith, a freely swingingpendulous member operatively connected to said armature, a tube carried by said pendulous member, and

- fluid means within said tube adapted when the pendulous member is oscillated to one position to close the circuit and when the tube is oscillated to another position to open,

the circuit.

2. A device of the class described having circuit-interrupting mechanism comprising a field-magnet provided with polepieces, a shaft having'an armature thereon positioned between, and cooperative with, said polepieces without impact engagement therewith, a pendulum connected to said shaft,

the body of mercury being, ess than that of the electro-v a tube carried by said pendulum, an electrically'conductive liquid within said tube,

a circuit connected to said device, and means for closing the circuit when the tube is oscillated to one position, and for opening the circuit when the tube is oscillated to another osition. r

3. A evice of the class described having circuit-interrupting mechanism comprising a field-magnet provided with pole-pieces, a shaft having an armature thereon positioned between, and cooperative with, said polepieces without impact engagement therei with, a pendulum connected to said shaft,

a tube carried by said pendulum, an electrically conductive liquid within said tube, means for adjusting the armature relatively to the tube, a circuit connected to said device, and means for closing the circuit when the tube is oscillated to one position, and for opening the circuit when the tube is oscillated to another position.

4. A device of the class described having circuit-interrupting mechanism comprising a field-magnet provided with pole-pieces, a shaft having an armature thereon positioned between said pole-pieces, said armature being freely movable between said pole-pieces without impact engagement therewith, a pendulum connected to said shaft, weighted means secured to the pendulum for regulating the swinging movement thereof, a tube carried by said pendulum, an electrically conductive liquid within said tube, a circuit connected to said device, and means for closing the circuit when the tube is oscillated to one position, and for opening the circuit when the tube is oscillated to another position.

5. A device-of the class described having circuit-interrupting mechanism comprising a field-magnet provided with pole-pieces, a

shaft having an armature thereon positioned between said pole-pieces, and cooperative therewith, said armature being freely movable between said pole-pieces without impact engagement therewith, a pendulum connected to said shaft, a weight secured to the pendulum for regulating the swinging movement thereof, said weight being adjustable relative to the pendulum, a tube carried by said pendulum. an electrical- 1y conductive liquid within said tube, a circuit connected to said device,'and means for closing the circuit when the tube is oscillated to one position, and for opening the circuit when the tube is oscillated to another position.

6. A device of the class described having a circuit-interrupting mechanism comprising a field-magnet provided with polepieces, a movable armature mounted between and cooperative with saidpole-pieces, said armature being freely movable between said pole-pieces without impact engagement therewith, a, freely swinging pendulous member operatively connected to said armature, a tube-holder provided with longitudinally extending slots, means extending through said slotsand secured to said pendulous member for permitting the holder to be adjusted laterally relative to the pendulous member, a tube carried by said holder, and fluid means within said tube adapted when the pendulous member is 05- 10 cillated to one position to close a circuit and when the pendulous member is oscillated to another position to open said circuit.

GISBERT L. BOSS-UH). RUDULF ZAUGG. 

